It didn’t need to be pretty. When you’re still searching for your first goal of the season in Game 55, you’ll take whatever you can get.
So the jubilation for Edmonton Oilers right winger Connor Brown was understandable and justifiable when teammate Evander Kane banked a centering pass off Brown’s skate and past Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper Wednesday night. It counted for goal No. 1 of Brown’s 2023-24 season. Brown had also finished his 2021-22 campaign with a 14-game scoring drought – then played just four scoreless games in 2022-23 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. All in all, that meant his drought sat at 72 games before Wednesday night. His most recent NHL goal came on March 24, 2022, meaning Brown, 30, had gone almost two calendar years between tallies.
The reaction by the fans at Rogers Place thus felt appropriate. After the goal and a rowdy celebration between Brown and his teammates, the Oiler faithful gave Brown a two-minute standing ovation and rained hats on the ice.
“It meant a lot,“ Brown told reporters after the game. “You play in a big market like this, they’re aware of the storylines. It means a lot. It’s been a struggle this year, offensively. I haven’t been able to get one to go. For their support to shine through there, they’re rooting for me, it was a good feeling.”
“The building was loud, that’s one of the loudest times I’ve heard the building,” right winger Zach Hyman, who scored a natural hat trick Wednesday and now sits second in the NHL in goals with 46, told reporters. “Everybody was really happy for him. It’s not easy coming to a new team, coming off of injury. There are so many looks that should have gone in for him.”
The monkey is off Brown’s back. Considering he entered this season with five double-digit goal years, including two 20-goal efforts, don’t be surprised if he commences a hot streak now.
More must-reads: